Unlimited opportunities
With the first two Grands Prix of the 2006 season completed, the BMW Sauber F1 Team resumes testing. This week, Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica will conduct a test programme at the state-of-the-art 'Circuit Paul Ricard' race-track. Learn more about the circuit.
In Malaysia, the BMW Sauber F1 Team succeeded in securing the first World Championship points in its history. To continue enhancing the BMW Sauber F1.06, the team is now going to complete a three-day testing programme at the 'Circuit Paul Ricard', close to Le Castellet.
The track, located between Marseille and Toulon in the South of France is an extremely modern facility and has been a popular Formula One test circuit, since 2002. The original circuit was built back in 1970 and hosted 14 GPs from 1971 to 1990, but in 1991, the French Grand Prix was moved to Magny-Cours. In 2001, 'Paul Ricard' was radically revamped and can now offer almost 180 different track layouts.
The length of a lap ranges from 826 meters to 6.105 kilometers and features up to 15 right-handers and 10 left-handers, with one of them being a hairpin. This way, the circuit offers engineers the chance of simulating different track layouts. Furthermore, the 'Circuit Paul Ricard' is unique because of its variable irrigation facility, of fering the opportunity to test wet weather tyres at any time.
Source BMW Sauber f1http://www.f1technical.net/news/2261
